DefenceTalkGermany pushed its NATO allies Wednesday to re-open high-level channels of communication with Russia, arguing that Moscow has a constructive role to play in many areas, especially in ending the Syrian conflict. “We still have very different experiences with Russia, there is a difficult situation in eastern Ukraine, again breaches of the ceasefire,” German Foreign […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-pushes-nato-to-engage-russia-65970/

DefenceTalkLondon: Britain joined the US-led bombing campaign against ISIS in Syria on Thursday, with air strikes beginning just hours after a decisive parliamentary vote. Royal Air Force planes based in Cyprus had returned from the “first offensive operation over Syria and have conducted strikes”, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said early Thursday, following a vote […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-begins-syria-air-strikes-after-parliament-vote-65965/

DefenceTalkMoscow: Russia accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family of involvement in illegal oil trading with Islamic State jihadists, ratcheting up the heat in a dispute over Ankara’s downing of one of Moscow’s warplanes. The Turkish strongman accused Moscow of “slander” over claims his country had bought oil from IS, while Russian Foreign […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-accuses-turkeys-erdogan-over-is-oil-trade-65962/

DefenceTalkJerusalem: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted for the first time Tuesday that Israeli forces have been operating in Syria, where the Iran-backed regime is battling rebels including the jihadist Islamic State. “We occasionally carry out operations in Syria to prevent that country from becoming a front against us,” Netanyahu told reporters during a visit to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israel-pm-admits-forces-operating-in-war-hit-syria-65956/

DefenceTalkWashington: The United States will increasingly rely on special operations troops to battle Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday, while calling on international powers to beef up their own efforts. Speaking to lawmakers in the House Armed Services Committee, the Pentagon chief said he was deploying a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-special-forces-to-fight-isis-in-iraq-syria-65953/

DefenceTalkWASHINGTON: Russia’s arming its Su-34 warplanes in Syria with air-to-air missiles can only complicate an already difficult situation in Syria’s airspace, Pentagon spokesperson Michelle Baldanza told TASS on Monday. “Such systems will further complicate an already difficult situation in the skies over Syria and do nothing to further the fight against ISIL [the former name […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-warns-russia-against-arming-warplanes-syria-air-to-air-missiles-65943/

DefenceTalkLATAKIA, Syria: Russia’s Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers (NATO reporting name: Fullback) have for the first time taken, in addition to bombs, short-and medium-range air-to-air missiles on combat mission in Syria for their protection, spokesman for the Russian Aerospace Forces Colonel Igor Klimov reported on Monday. “The Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers today have for the first time taken […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-arms-su-34-bombers-with-air-to-air-missiles-65940/

DefenceTalkGermany’s Cabinet has approved a mandate offering military assistance in the fight against the self-declared “Islamic State” (IS) in Syria. The package still requires parliamentary approval. The package, covering reconnaissance flights, a naval frigate and up to 1,200 German troops joining the coalition against IS, is now awaiting support from Germany’s lower house of parliament […]https://www.defencetalk.com/german-cabinet-approves-mission-in-syria-against-is-65934/

DefenceTalkGermany can offer France Tornado reconnaissance jets, a naval frigate, aerial refueling and satellite images to back the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group, the defence minister said Thursday. “France was struck to the bone by the horrific attacks by the IS but we know that this inhumane rage can hit us or other […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-offers-france-recon-jets-frigate-for-is-fight-65928/

DefenceTalkRussia’s state-owned RIA Novosti news agency says that the advanced S-400 antiaircraft system has been deployed at a Russian military base in Syria. Russia announced it would deploy the advanced surface-to-air missile system after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane along the Turkey-Syria border on November 24. The system has reportedly been deployed in Syria’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russian-says-s-400-already-deployed-in-syria-65919/